Butting in here, it is note that it was not the Jerusalem leadership that sent out Paul and Barnabas, much less Rome, nor even any apostles, but certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1)
However, it is not indicated that Peter was trying to dissolve the Paul/Barnabas evangelistic team, but that in when "certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision." (Galatians 2:12)
Peter's declension was one of weakness, of fear (been there), but this was a rare exception, and inconsistent with his professed belief and support of Paul, for as he attested (I do not think Gal. 2 happened before Acts 15), "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28)
Yet this does not support the RC papacy, which cannot even find Peter in the letter to the church at Rome, and which absence results in the absurd RC pleading that Paul did not mention him because of persecution, yet he has no problem mentioning over 30 other people!
No butting perceived, but rather a welcomed participation in the matter at hand. Thanks for your view!
it was not the Jerusalem leadership that sent out Paul and Barnabas
Perhaps, reading through, my point to that effect was not made clearly enough.
I do not think Gal. 2 happened before Acts 15
We might not agree on this, but the timeline that I feel is played out comes from Luke, whose writings are deliberately sequential:
-- In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas are sent out
-- In Acts 14, their return back through the sites of their first trip out to and among the Celts
of Galatia, arriving at their sending home church Antioch of Syria.
-- While there, Paul hears reports from the Gaulites, and writes the letter to them that we have,
concerning their response to Judaizers that followed P & B around (?).
-- Their stopover at Antioch is noted in Acts 14:26-28, and the tiff with Simon was included in that letter. That must have happened before Paul, Barnabas, and other witnesses from Antioch went to confront the Jerusalem leaders about the Judaizers emanating from Judea.
-- Also, Simon must have decamped and gone back to Jerusalem beforehand; for what purpose is not clear.
I'd appreciate your view of how Acts 15 came before Acts 14 and the letter to the Galatians.